Thursday, January 16, 2014

The omnibus spending bill before Congress continues to fund U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advertising programs for food stamps in foreign countries like Mexico, Breitbart News has learned.

The bill was hashed out between House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Senate Appropriations Committee chairwoman Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The funding will continue despite claims in a document the House Appropriations Committee published that the bill contains a “prohibition” on such programs. Page three of this press document states regarding food stamps that the omnibus spending bill contains a "prohibition on advertisements or outreach with foreign governments."

Rebecca Rizzi was five weeks pregnant and desperately looking for a way out — any way out.

Despite her qualms and personal opposition to abortion, she had reluctantly made up her mind: Terminating the pregnancy was for the best.

Rizzi setup an appointment at a Planned Parenthood in Tempe, Ariz., last May and subsequently drove there to learn more about the procedure. As she was en route to the clinic, her mind raced, as she secretly wanted to find a way to escape an act that she believed deep in her heart was morally wrong.

“I felt I had to do it,” the 24-year-old told TheBlaze. “It was a situation where I hadn’t talked to my family in a long time — same with my friends.”More

Neocon big leaguer, William Kristol, has come out with another doozy of an op-ed for the Weekly Standard, the neocon redoubt Kristol edits that has consistently lost around a million dollars a year since its inception in 1995.

This time around, Bill glamorizes the War to End All Wars, the First World War. He laments the “gravitational pull toward a posture of ironic passivity or fatalistic regret in the face of civilizational decline,” in other words the natural attitude of normal people to avoid war, largely because they inevitably pay the heavy price while a pampered intelligentsia hide out in their ivory towers.

Bill says the First World War engendered a “continuing deep if often indirect contribution to today’s demoralization of the West” because, as his buddy, the Canadian David Frum (inventor of the “axis of evil”) notes, it brought about a rejection of war despite the best efforts of the state to glorify and glamorize it.

Back when President Obama was a wide-eyed candidate, he used to attack George Bush at every opportunity. One of his favorite targets was the surveillance state he said was created by the Patriot Act. In those days, he claimed that Big Brother was out of control, that the Patriot Act was an affront to the Constitution, and that - were he President - the whole thing would be brought under control.

“That means no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens,” he said in 2007. “No more national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime.”

How times have changed. Under his administration the Patriot Act has been strengthened, the programs it created have been expanded, and the surveillance state he once lamented has grown exponentially. According to a new report in the New York Times, Obama was perfectly happy to let all this happen. His predecessor was gone and there was little reason to bother with undoing the transgressions of the Bush era.More

The most libertarian-leaning Republicans in the House are now eager to line up behind the congressman some have called the “new Ron Paul.”

National Journal reports: “The House Liberty Caucus, chaired by Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, quietly launched last year with five or six lawmakers attending a hastily choreographed meeting. Now the group holds a biweekly, invite-only luncheon that draws some two dozen lawmakers and is rapidly becoming an ideological home base for those ‘core’ House conservatives who say the RSC’s swelling membership is diluting its ideological intensity.”

Relatively exclusive in its membership, the House Liberty Caucus is led by some of the House’s most liberty-minded Republicans. Reports the Journal: “Amash’s invitation list can change from meeting to meeting, depending on the topic, and at times has included Democrats who agree on domestic-surveillance issues. But the group is driven primarily by Amash and his closest friends in Congress, including Reps. Raul Labrador of Idaho, Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky.”

China’s holdings of U.S. Treasuries increased $12.2 billion to a record $1.317 trillion in November, data released on the Treasury Department’s website showed.

The figures, scheduled for release at 9 a.m. tomorrow in Washington, were inadvertently posted on the Treasury’s website. Japan’s holdings rose $12 billion to $1.186 trillion, the figures showed.

China’s swelling foreign-exchange reserves, reported today to have reached a world record $3.82 trillion at the end of December, may sustain the nation’s appetite for U.S. debt. Capital inflows and intervention to limit gains in the yuan have contributed to China building up currency holdings that are a third of the global total.More

More information is being made available surrounding the Sunday death of a Yakima, Washington man who was shot inside his vehicle by a police officer who mistook his Airsoft pistol for a real firearm. This mistake occurred in spite of the toy gun being disassembled and in four parts in the passenger seat.

Officer Casey Gilette observed what he determined to be a suspicious vehicle parked outside of a 24-hour car wash on a routine 3 am patrol.

Gilette states that he surveyed the situation for an hour and then elected to investigate.

Editor’s Note: The following story contains strong sexual themes that may offend some readers.

A poster asking some Kansas middle school students a sexually provocative question has at least one parent up in arms.

“How do people express their sexual feelings,” the poster asks, before listing “touching each other’s genitals,” “anal sex” and “vaginal intercourse,” among other things.After seeing the material posted at Hocker Grave Middle School in Shawnee, Kan., Mark Ellis thought it was likely posted by pranksters, WDAF-TV reported. He couldn’t believe school officials would actually expose his 13-year-old daughter to such a question. More

In the world of philosophy, there are two prime schools of thought about action and consequence.

One, laid out in detail by Immanuel Kant, is deontology, a theory in which the goodness of an act is judged solely by adherence to a rule or set of rules. There are universal duties and obligations, and it is the motive of the actor that matters.

In the second, teleology, determining whether an act is morally right or wrong depends solely on the results of said act (good results, good act; bad results, bad act). In this sort of pragmatic ethics, the ends justify the means — always.

A Pennsylvania mayor who has pushed for tougher gun-control laws is now going to jail after holding his homosexual crush hostage while armed with a gun.

Former Marcus Hook Mayor James Schiliro was sentenced to 10 to 20 months for an alcohol-fueled episode last February.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Schiliro “had a police car bring a former neighbor – a 20-year-old to whom he said he was attracted – to his home, made him drink wine, and refused to let him leave for three and a half hours.”Read more

This article received 900% more views yesterday than the next top article of the day and today it is still 300% higher than any other article of the day.Clearly this topic has proven to be one of the most popular we have ever seen. Could it be because so many people have been bullied themselves? Could it be because even more people are aware that bullying is an even larger problem here then we had ever known?No matter the answer, comments from our Post yesterday proved that there are many on the Eastern Shore who are still racist, cruel and wanted to pass the blame off on others, even on the NAACP for this problem. Let me tell you this. This article has more than 140 comments on it from yesterday and you wouldn't believe how many we REJECTED. In the end, this is about one of probably many children who have experienced very difficult times in a place where parents and children should be the most rewarding. Hopefully many of you picked up the phone and called the Board of Education and made a difference for this particular child.

With 25 congressmen retiring or seeking another office in 2014, two top experts predict that Republicans will add to their majority in the House.

Nationally syndicated columnist Michael Barone sees "slight" gains for the Republicans, but veteran political analyst Dick Morris predicts another GOP "wave year" along the lines of 2010, when Republicans enjoyed their biggest gains in House elections since 1938.

"We need to look at each individual district, but in general, 2014 will be a big Republican year, and I expect the open House seats to largely trend Republican." Morris told Newsmax.

Morris, who was an early forecaster of the Republican "wave year" of 2010, said that given voter fury over problems with Obamacare, "I think '14 will be a repeat of '10 except that I think we may take the Senate."

Jeremiah Wright, the former spiritual mentor to President Obama who shouted "God damn America," was a keynote speaker at a Wednesday breakfast held by the Chicago Teachers Union to honor Martin Luther King Jr. He used the occasion to slam the president's military and foreign policy.

In his speech, Wright said that although King declared "I have a dream, Barack says, I have a drone." He called for a rejection of the "three-headed demon" of "racism, militarism and capitalism," according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times.

"Every Tuesday morning, there’s a kill list that the president decides who they’re going to kill this week," Wright said.More

Tyson Foods Inc. is recalling about 33,840 pounds of mechanically separated chicken products due to fears it may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria, CBS News reports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Tyson Foods said that they were voluntarily recalling some 40-pound cases, which contained four 10-pound packages of Tyson Mechanically Separated Chicken. The products were produced in October of 2013.

The chicken was intended for institutional use only across the country, and would not have made its way for consumer purchase in retail stores, according to the report.

The 2012 terrorist assault on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, involved attackers from several major international terrorist networks, according to a bipartisan Senate report released Wednesday that blames the intelligence community and the State Department — and Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens himself — for lapses.

A grassroots political action group is raising funds to air ads in key swing markets immediately before and after the Super Bowl featuring Sen. Ted Cruz’s fierce battle against President Obama’s health care law.

The “Thank You Ted Cruz” ads are produced and sponsored by the Conservative Campaign Committee, which says its aim is to “hold Barack Obama and the liberals in Washington accountable and support important campaigns and outstanding conservative candidates for federal office.”Read more

Russell Johnson, who played the professor on “Gilligan’s Island,” died Thursday morning, his agent confirmed to TheWrap. He was 89.

Johnson died at his home in Washington state of natural causes, his agent, Michael Eisenstadt said.

Johnson was the last surviving male castaway from the TV series that ran from 1964 to 1967. Bob Denver (Gilligan) died in 2005; Alan Hale (the Skipper) died in 1990; and Jim Backus (Mr. Howell) died in 1989. Natalie Schafer (Mrs. Howell) died in 1991; Dawn Wells and Tina Louise (Mary Ann and Ginger) are the last surviving castmembers.More

WASHINGTON — The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 contains a provision that U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, said is important for the seafood industry on the Eastern Shore.

The provision would allow Maryland’s seafood industry to continue to stagger its seasonal foreign workers on H-2B temporary work visas to support harvests during peak seasons. The legislation is currently in the House of Representatives, and the Senate is expected to take it up later this week.

H-2B visa workers are temporarily hired from other countries for seasonal industries and then return home once the visa expires. Before being eligible for H-2B visas, a business must first try to find workers who are already in the U.S.More

(BALTIMORE, MD) -- Maryland State Police criminal investigators located and arrested a Baltimore man who is wanted by Texas law enforcement in connection with the burglary and theft of high-end purses valued at $200,000.

The accused is identified as Edward M. Bryant, 40, of the 4100-block of Glenhunt Road, Baltimore, Md. He is being held on a fugitive warrant at the Harford County Detention Center as a result of felony warrants issued in Texas for burglary and theft over $100,000. Texas authorities have begun extradition proceedings against him.

Earlier this week, troopers in the Maryland State Police Criminal Enforcement Division were contacted by investigators from the West University Place (TX) Police Department, who requested assistance with the investigation of a December 7, 2013, residential burglary during which eight Herme´s handbags/purses valued at $200,000 were stolen. The investigation by West University Place Police had identified two suspects in Maryland, one of whom was Bryant.

Maryland State Police criminal investigators enlisted the assistance of personnel from the Maryland State Apprehension Team, the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, the US Marshal’s Service and the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office. West University Place Police detectives flew to Maryland to work with State Police on the continuing investigation.

Bryant was arrested at his home without incident on the morning of January 14th. Police recovered four of the stolen handbags at another location in the Baltimore area which is not being identified due to the ongoing investigation. The handbags included three Herme´s Birkins, two valued at $38,000 each and one worth $30,000. The fourth was a Herme´s Kelly valued at $15,000.

A search for the second suspect is continuing. Additional charges are pending. The investigation is continuing.

Federal officials have filed a complaint against Wal-Mart for allegedly retaliating against workers who staged Black Friday protests in 2012.

The National Labor Relations Board, which protects the rights of workers who organize for better working conditions, is taking a next step in a case against Wal-Mart for alleged unfair labor practices. The agency had warned in November that the complaint could be filed.

The complaint, filed Tuesday and circulated Wednesday by union representatives, details times when Wal-Mart allegedly illegally threatened"reprisal" against workers who protested on November 22, 2012, both on national television and to employees directly.More

(Reuters) - The District of Columbia stepped closer to decriminalizing marijuana on Wednesday when a city council panel approved a measure that would make smoking a joint in the U.S. capital a violation comparable to a parking ticket.

Approved unanimously by the city council's public safety committee, the bill reduces penalties for possessing less than an ounce (28 grams) of marijuana to a fine as little as $25.

Eight times more blacks than non-blacks in Washington are arrested for pot possession, and committee Chairman Tommy Wells said the measure's goal was fairness and reducing law enforcement costs.

"This is a social justice bill that addresses disproportionate impact," said Wells, who is among nine candidates for mayor in the April 1 Democratic primary.

Guess what? We are almost certainly going to be seeing higher ObamaCare premiums in the next year, given the fact that many more older and sicker people have been signing up for the program. I am sure that you are aware of the fact that in order for this law to be financially viable it simply must be attracting a large number of younger and healthier customers. This is so that there will not be so much of a drag on the system wide resources. Obviously, older people will use more healthcare than younger folks. Not to mention the fact that younger people will end up paying higher premiums for this ‘privilege.’

Because of this fact, with more older Americans signing up and fewer than hoped younger Americans, it almost guarantees that next year’s expected premium increases will be higher than expected for millions of people. Even the New York Times is reporting this:

“People signing up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s federal and state marketplaces tend to be older and potentially less healthy, officials said Monday, a demographic mix that could threaten the law’s economic underpinnings and cause premiums to rise in the future if the pattern persists.”

On January 1, Obamacare’s subsidized exchange coverage began. The Congressional Budget Office projects that exchange subsidies, both the premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies, will cost more than $1 trillion over 10 years, with up to 19 million people receiving federal subsidies to offset the cost of their exchange coverage in 2023.

Those who earn anywhere between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($11,490 to $45,960 for individuals and $23,550 to $94,200 for a family of four in 2013) and are not offered affordable and adequate coverage elsewhere will be eligible for Obamacare’s premium subsidies. These subsidies are applied on a sliding scale, with Americans in the lowest income level receiving the highest premium subsidy.

Narrative: On 13 January 2014 at 4:16 AM, a deputy arrested Deshaun Burke in
connection with the passing of a fraudulent check at a store in the 2600 block
of Old Ocean City Road. In this incident, Burke is accused of entering the
establishment and presenting what appeared to be a payroll check for $1,900.00
that he cashed at the store. Subsequent to the cashing, the establishment
discovered that Burke had presented a fraudulent check.

Upon arrest Burke was
transported to the Central Booking Unit and after an initial appearance in
front of the District Court Commissioner, Burke was detained on a bond of
$10,000.00.

Narrative: Between 10-14 Jan 2014, deputies from the Wicomico
County Sheriff’s Office arrested the following individuals on Circuit Court
Body Attachments that had been issued in connection with Child Support Cases:

1.Elijah R. Kellam, 23, Snow Hill, MD

2.Timothy Wayne Sampson, 36, Salisbury, MD

3.Todd Lamont Watson, 43, Salisbury, MD

4.Matthew Adam Tyre, 35, Salisbury, MD

All subjects were
detained on bond in the Detention Center pending an initial appearance in front
of a Circuit Court Judge.

 Vote to convene in Closed Session for the purpose of consulting with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter and to consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation in accordance with the Annotated Code of Maryland §10-508(a)(7)(8). (Council to receive quarterly update on litigation)

1.On 15 Jan 2014 at 1:31 PM, a deputy arrested
Emily Jean Derbyshire, 31 of Hebron, on a District Court bench Warrant. The
warrant was issued after Derbyshire failed to appear for a case where she had
been charged with Assault 2nd Degree and False Imprisonment.
Derbyshire was detained on a bond of $5,000.00.

2.On 15 Jan 2014 at 5:45 PM, a deputy arrested
Daniel Nathan Elliott, 53 of Silver Spring, FL as a wanted fugitive from that
state. Authorities in Florida wanted Elliott in connection with a violation of
probation in a grand theft case. Elliott was detained without bond pending extradition
back to Florida.

1.On 14 Jan 2014 at 12:00 PM a deputy arrested
Mary Lou Seigler, 50 of Salisbury, on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The
warrant was issued after Seigler violated the terms of her probation after a
conviction in a CDS Possession case. Seigler was detained on a bond of
$30,000.00.

2.On 14 Jan 2014 at 12:45 PM, a deputy
arrested Teresa L. Bingaman, 52 of Green Castle, PA, on a District Court Arrest
Warrant. Authorities in Hagerstown, MD had charged Bingaman in connection with
a theft and forgery case. Upon an initial appearance, Bingaman was detained on
a bond of $25,000.00 pending a trial in Washington County.

3.On 14 Jan 2014 at 1:30 PM, a deputy arrested
Anthony Dontay Austin, 23 of Hurlock, on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant. The
warrant was issued after Austin failed to appear for a violation of probation
hearing following a conviction of Armed Robbery. Austin was detained without
bond.

(Annapolis) -- Seeking to enhance the right of crime victims to deliver impact statements in court, Delegate Mike McDermott (R- Worcester & Wicomico) is pleased to present HB31 “Alex’s Law” before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Alex’s Law allows the victim of a crime or, in cases where the victim is unable to testify, the victim’s representative, to address the court at the sentencing hearing.

“HB 31 insures that victims have the opportunity to be heard. For the victims of violent crimes the opportunity to briefly speak before a court and describe the impact on their lives can help them find resolution and move on with their lives.” said Delegate McDermott.

Under current law, the court “may” allow victim impact statements, but some victims find themselves denied the opportunity by courts without an explanation. Alex’s Law changes the language to “shall,” using the stronger language to clarify the legislature’s intent and change the norm while still allowing a judge discretion to deny victim impact statements when allowing such statements would be unpractical.

Referencing an actual case in Maryland where a victim’s mother was not permitted to testify on her injured son’s behalf, Delegate McDermott stated, “The victim and the victim’s mother simply wanted the court to know the totality of the impact that the accident had on the victim’s life. This was wrongly denied and should not happen to anyone.”

Delegate McDermott will be joined by members of Maryland’s victims advocate community in support of the bill this Thursday. The legislation passed unanimously in the House as HB1382 in 2013 before being stalled in the Senate at the close of session. Delegate McDermott looks forward to full passage this year. “This is about ensuring that our families have the opportunity to speak in the courts, especially when a crime has unduly changed their lives for the worse” concluded McDermott.

1.On 13 Jan 2014 at 1:45 AM, a deputy arrested
Charles Robert Timmons, 22 of Salisbury, on a District Court Bench Warrant. The
warrant was issued after Timmons failed to appear for a trial where he had been
charged with theft under $100.00. Timmons was detained in the Detention Center
in lieu of $1,000.00 bond.

2.On 13 Jan 2014 at 10:00 AM, a deputy
arrested Michael Anthony Howard Sr., 45 of Pasadena, MD, on a District Court
Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Howard violated the terms of his
probation after being convicted of Assault 2nd Degree, False
Statement to a Law Enforcement Officer and Obstruct and Hinder. Howard was
detained without bond in the Detention Center.

3.On 13 Jan 2014 at 3:30 PM, a deputy arrested
Hayward J. Fisher, 59 of Fruitland on a District Court Bench warrant. The
warrant was issued after Fisher failed to appear for an Assault case back in
1992. Fisher was released on Personal Recognizance.

ANNAPOLIS – Students at Maryland state colleges and universities could face a 3 percent tuition increase, as a result of the budget proposal Gov. Martin O’Malley announced Wednesday.

“We put the money in up front, and then that allows them not to have to pass as much of the cost onto in-state students when they set their tuition and their budget for the year,” O’Malley said. “And every year, it’s a bit of a negotiation.”

Initially, the University System of Maryland wanted a 5 percent tuition increase, but through funding from the state, the governor’s office was able to push it down to a 3 percent cap, said O’Malley’s press secretary, Nina Smith. More

(Salisbury) -- On Saturday, January 25th, Delegate Mike McDermott (R-Worcester & Wicomico Counties) will be presenting a House Resolution and a Governor’s Citation to the Forensic Program at Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) to recognize their outstanding work. Last year alone the forensic nurses were working hard and handling a total of 140 cases from various states and counties. PRMC has 14 highly specialized nurses, certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing to perform Adult and Pediatric forensic exams.

The Forensic Program seeks to help victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, abuse and neglect, elder abuse, and vulnerable adults. The program allows patients in need of extended services once they leave the emergency department to receive such services. The nurses in the Forensic Program facilitate communication between law enforcement, local child advocacy centers, social workers in the community, and Life Crisis.

In 2012, the Forensic Program at Peninsula Regional Medical Center also successfully implemented the Lethality Assessment Program to the triage process. This program seeks to determine whether a patient needs necessary referral resources to prevent future lethality in domestic violence cases. This allows patients to receive assistance through outside resources, such as Life Crisis, while still receiving the medical care in the hospital, which can begin in triage. Since October of 2012, the Lethality Assessment Program provided resources to fifty patients.

Another part of the Forensic Program is the Sexual Assault Response Team. This involves three day training to a multidisciplinary team of agencies and hospitals throughout the region. The training is typically conducted by law enforcement and involve information about the changes in the laws, information on rape kit collection, and how to work with victims of a sexual assault.

1.On 10 Jan 2014 at 10:45 AM, a deputy
arrested Markeeta Waters, 18 of Salisbury, on an outstanding District Court
Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Waters violated the terms of her
probation following her conviction in a theft case. Waters was detained in the
Detention Center in lieu of $1,000.00 bond.

2.On 10 Jan 2014 at 7:05 PM, a deputy arrested
James D. Brown, 44 of Salisbury, on two outstanding Circuit Court Bench
Warrants. The warrants were issued after Brown violated the terms of his
probation following conviction in an Assault 2nd Degree case and a
traffic case. Brown was detained in the Detention Center pending a Circuit
Court appearance.

3.On 10 Jan 2014 at 8:30 PM, a deputy arrested
Elijah R. Kellam, 23 of Snow Hill, on an outstanding District Court Bench
Warrant. The warrant was issued after Kellam failed to appear for a trial where
he had been charged with Assault 2nd Degree, Attempted Kidnapping,
False Imprisonment and Reckless Endangerment. Kellam was detained on a bond of
$150,000.00.

4.On 10 Jan 2014 at 10:05 PM, a deputy
arrested Rosa Maria Montecinos, 30 of Eden, on an outstanding District Court
Bench Warrant. The warrant was issued after Montecinos failed to appear for a
violation of probation hearing in a Possession of CDS Paraphernalia case.
Montecinos was detained on a bond of $250.00.

Anton Gunn – the former S.C. lawmaker-turned-Obamacare bureaucrat who christened himself “Mr. Health Care” – is stepping down from his post with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

“I’m just playing a different position on the field,” the former University of South Carolina football player told reporter Corey Hutchins. “I did a lot of blocking and tackling for the last three and a half years for the administration and now I’m trying to change positions because I think I can run the ball a lot faster than some of the people we got as running backs, so I’m just taking that opportunity.”

Millions of new enrollees are signing up for Medicaid due to its expansion under Obamacare, but many will be shocked to learn that their estates can be held liable for the costs of their healthcare.

As part of the 1993 budget reconciliation bill, Congress required states to implement the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program (MERP) to seek reimbursement of payments for nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Obamacare, officially known as The Affordable Care Act, greatly expanded the services for which reimbursement can be pursued, and states can now use liens to recover money spent by Medicaid for services beyond long-term care.

States have discretion in how to implement the law, with some seeking to collect nearly all medical expenses.

January 17th, 2014 is another 3rd Friday in Downtown Salisbury, from 5-8pm. 3rd Friday keeps rocking all winter long, just with a slightly different format. Artists and Vendors are now located inside The Powell Building and Parker Place Building on the Plaza. The winter set-up allows us to highlight more Fine Art, since an indoor setting means... well... we have walls! The restaurants and shops are open, and special events are happening all over Downtown, so it's the perfect time for a night out.

In the Powell Building, on the Plaza, we will have fine artists, jewelry artists, and a very special fine art showcase by Jason Kaminski. Jason has worked all over the country in a myriad of aspects of Art and Design, and while he has had individual works featured in galleries across the US, this will be Jason's first time doing a complete solo show. Jason's move to Salisbury, about a year ago, spurred a period of refocus on his art, and 3 rd Friday is ecstatic that he chose us for his debut showcase. "I chose 3rd Friday to support local art awareness. I could have gone a lot of places, but I really believe in what they are doing. It is my hope that this show will help bring more people to 3rd Friday and keep creativity alive in our community" says Jason. Jason's work is astounding; hand-drawn, large scale images will have you betting they are photographs. His hyper-realistic details, together with pulp noir grit and a distinct point of view, make his works impossible to ignore. He even did a special piece just for this Friday, collaboration with a local model Chelsea Eline, local poet Ghost Gardener, and a local tattoo artist Cyrus High, to recreate the classic "pin-up" icon, with a twist. The special edition print was created just for this show, and will be available for sale. Some of Jason's work will also be shown beginning February 5th at the Kent Island Federation of the Arts in the "Human Form' show. He is currently working on a new collection entitled "Fractures", which is a multi-medium exploration to expose the many faces of the human soul.

In the Parker Place Building, at the very bottom of the Plaza, more arts and crafts vendors will be set up. We've outgrown our Powell Building space and are so grateful to have a whole other space to use! So stop by, and check out local artists, crafters, jewelry makers, glass blowers, potters and more! Parker Place will also host The 3rd Friday Winter Acoustic Jam, presented by B&B Music, and SWAC will also be there hosting "Winter Arts and Crafts for The New Year!

In the Gallery Building, Art Institute and Gallery will be opening their first show of the New Year. The "Black & White Exhibition" opens on 3rd Friday, and also features a solo exhibit by Kurt Reddersen. Maya Bella's Pizzeria, everyone's favorite place to grab a quick bite on 3rd Fridays, will be offering free garlic knows with every 18" pizza! Dinner and a show!

Other special events are happening all over Downtown this 3rd Friday. Its Vinyl Night at Main Roots Coffee, just bring in your favorite record to play, and enjoy a hot coffee! It's like an Open Mic, with records. Season's Best Antiques is hosting a Countdown to the Super Bowl Party with a vendor chili cook off, and tons of sales. Brew River is welcoming back one of Salisbury's most celebrated athletes, Fernando Guerrero. The Middleweight boxer will return to his adopted hometown for a picture and autograph session from 5-8 p.m. "I want to tell everybody that I'm forever going to be a Salisbury and an East Coast person. I never want them to forget that. I might go down, but I'm always going to get up and become that champion." The southpaw won a silver medal at the National Golden Gloves Tournament and won the National AAU championship at middleweight in 2006 as an amateur. As a professional he has been a featured fighter on Showtime's ShoBox: The New Generation and ESPN's Friday Night Fights. The event is free and open to the public.

The Downtown Firehouse will also be hosting a special event. The Students of Wicomico County's Elementary TAD (Thinking and Doing) Gifted and Talented Program have recently completed a unit of study that included regional planning and architecture decision-making and skills. The students engaged in real life problem solving challenges as they created detailed plans for the undeveloped property at 500 Riverside Drive. The students performed interviews and studied various architecture styles and techniques. Over 200 students, in 30 teams created final proposals explaining their findings and recommendations for the property, complete with include bubble diagrams, blueprints and sketches. They will present their ideas to architects from various architectural firms in our community, and the public during 3rd Friday. The TAD Program and 3rd Friday are very excited to work together on this presentation. What a great way to bring all these kids Downtown, and to house their revitalization project's presentation in the Firehouse, the most recent poster-building for Downtown Revitalization.

Close out the night with a stop at one of Downtown's Bars and Restaurants. Roadie Joes' Bar and Grill will be rocking out with Groove Joose from 6pm -9pm and DJ Rusty Griswald from 10pm to Close. Cellar Door Tavern will also have the MREs, one of 3Fs favorite acoustic groups, live starting at 9pm. Mojo's and Market Street will both have live entertainment as well, and great drink specials!

3F is an all-volunteer effort, a downtown economic development initiative and a project of the Salisbury Arts & Entertainment District Committee. There is no charge for local artists to set up, but online advance registration is required. For information: Visit www.3rdFridaySby.com

As states work to comply with new federal welfare rules that restrict recipients from withdrawing cash benefits from liquor stores, reports released by Maine's Department of Health and Human Services show some doing just that.

Last week Maine Gov. Paul LePage announced that some state residents have been withdrawing welfare money from ATMs located in liquor stores and other restricted places. The revelations come at a time when states across the country are trying to comply with a 2012 federal law that restricts how welfare recipients spend public money through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

Maryland is for millionaires, according to wealth research firm Phoenix Marketing International.

Its annual list ranking states by millionaires says 167,287 Maryland households, or 7.7 percent of all households have investable assets of $1 million or more, the highest concentration of millionaires per capita in the nation.

It is the third consecutive year Maryland has ranked No. 1, bumping Hawaii from the top spot in 2011.

Virginia ranks No. 7, at 6.64 percent of all households. When the District is included with states, it ranks No. 10, at 6.10 percent of all households.More